Don’t Miss New Albums From Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Polo G & More

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, whose Instagram bio labels her as a “composer, synthesist, producer, sound designer, visual artist,” released a new album entitled Thoughts On The Future. The sprawling three-song, all-instrumental set follows her 2025 album, GUSH. The album was partly recorded on the vintage electronic keyboard ondes Martenot and the Buchla 200e modern digital processor. Detailing the lead track, “I Miss The Way You Swim,” she stated:

“I wrote my composition ‘I Miss The Way You Swim’ sitting under the stars in a foreign scenery by responding to bird sounds I had never heard before at a time of day I didn’t expect to hear birds. (I recorded the bird sounds and included them at the end of the complete track). I wrote the piece first by notation on my phone and then expanded upon it with synths once I got home. Written for someone I love losing someone they love.”

Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso issued a new album entitled TOP OF THE HILLS. The 12-track LP follows their EP, PAPOTA, which came out in March and is currently nominated for the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album Grammy Award and garnered them five Latin Grammys. When the pair announced TOP OF THE HILLS, the announcement stated:

Recorded over an electrifying two weeks, TOP OF THE HILLS finds the duo planting their flag at the summit of their musical prowess, emerging with an audaciously maximalist, endlessly charismatic body of work that dismantles any of the expectations for what was to come next for the Argentine duo. With a sound that destroys genre boundaries and production sorcery that feels one glitch away from rewriting the laws of physics, this album doesn’t just mark a new chapter; it sets fire to the old one.

Chicago rapper Polo G shared Hood Poet (Black Heart Edition), the companion follow-up to his 2024 album, Hood Poet. Bolstered by 22 new tracks, the release features fellow Chicago rappers VonOff1700, G Herbo and, posthumously, King Von.

In 1978, founding KISS drummer Peter Criss released his self-titled debut album and today released a second self-titled album, marking his sixth solo record to date. Criss worked with engineer/producer Barry Pointer on the follow-up to his 2007 album, One For All. The Catman was joined by a few special guest musicians on the newest Peter Criss LP, with contributions coming from Michael McLaughlin, John 5, Billy Sheehan, Piggy D and Paul Schaefer. Backing vocalists Dennis Collins, Sharron Collins and Cathryn Manning also appear on the album.

Actors Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson impersonate impersonators in the new feature film, Song Sung Blue. The Craig Brewer-directed film sees Jackman portraying Mike Sardina and Hudson in the role of Claire Sardina, the couple who performed the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder. The movie presents Jackman and Hudson performing many of Diamond’s hit songs, which are featured on the film’s soundtrack. Michael Imperioli and The Ton3s each appear on the soundtrack to the film arriving on December 25.